Assassin's Creed 3's lead designer Steve Masters has added weight to speculation that Assassin's Creed 3 will be the last Assassin's Creed game to star modern day throat-cutter Desmond Miles. If this turns out to be true, we'll say "thanks for the memories, Desmond" - and that'll be an extraordinarily apt turn of phrase, because pretty much the entirety of the series to date has taken place in Desmond's (genetic) memory. Achievement unlocked: Ostentatious Nerdalism.
Ubisoft is conscious that some fans found the hints and cliffhangers prevalent throughout Brotherhood and Revelations annoying. "We wanted there to be a big leap forward in the story," Masters went on, addressing this. "And we wanted you to feel a good sense of progress in what's going on in the story. A lot of the misdirection and the way we've been meandering a little bit has been kind of frustrating as a player and for the audience, so we wanted to make sure there was going to be more substance to get your teeth into."
What would Assassin's Creed 3 be without Desmond Miles? According to creative director Alex Hutchinson, it would be a bona fide new IP. I had a few thoughts about the possibility of a Desmond-only Assassin's Creed last year, not long after the new game's announcement - they're not entirely past their sell by date, so by all means revisit and comment.
10 comments so far...
Grummy on 22 Oct '12 said:
I'm happy to see the end of Desmond's story. The AC worls is larger than one man, in the very first game we are made aware that there are more cells than just his, and more objects of interest than the apple that they wanted Desmond to help pick. Putting aside the fact that there are plenty of other eras that could support an AC game, the other cells in modern day could all easily have their own stories to tell. If memory serves me correctly during AC 2 there was a period in modern day where the team lost contact with other cells around the world. What happened there? Those are stories that could be told, that could intersect with Desmonds story without directly involving him at all. There is a tonne of potential here, and it would be nice to see the other stories being told.
As for Desmond having his own game. I've always liked the idea, but now, I'm not so sure. To be honest for an AC assassin to fit into a modern world of automatic weapons and firearms, he would either need to take up modern arms himself, which would reduce the experience to a 3rd person shooter, or surround himself in technology and gadgetry that allows him to fool the senses, remain hidden from sight, and whilst he's at it he should learn to terrify people and wear a cowl and cape. The inconvenient truth as I see it is that a modern day AC game would pretty much have to be Batman to be exist and work in a world of automatic weapons, robotics and computers, if they wanted to maintain the core gameplay style of Assassin's Creed.
OXM ETboy on 22 Oct '12 said:
"The inconvenient truth as I see it is that a modern day AC game would pretty much have to be Batman to be exist and work in a world of automatic weapons, robotics and computers, if they wanted to maintain the core gameplay style of Assassin's Creed."
Indeed. Or possibly, Watch Dogs. I'm sure they've thought about crossing the streams there...
GTRogers on 22 Oct '12 said:
an assasin in the Watchdogs world? I could go for that
Getting so excited for AC3 now!
GallifreyDog on 22 Oct '12 said:
A modern day AC could work if there was some sort of contraption that momentarily jams guns, giving you time to grab your enemies guns and turn them on themselves. To be honest though, I wouldn't want one set in the modern day - I'd love to climb the Empire State Building though.
ChillieBonBon on 22 Oct '12 said:
Howabout a future AC.It would be Mass Effect meets hidden blade
FishyGinger on 23 Oct '12 said:
Never, ever cross the streams. I tried it at a urinal and the world nearly ended.
Also what about hitman, he's a modern day assassin and you're taught to not use guns.
sneakerphile on 23 Oct '12 said:
I always hoped that the rumours of an AC set in feudal Japan would come to pass. That would be awesome, having a samurai assassin, learning how to make katana using advanced metal work skills passed down by the brotherhood, loads of possibilities.
Or how about a version set in 19th century London, tie it in with Jack the Ripper, the Freemansons element is already there, ties with the royal family, that could be a good one.
CunningSmile on 23 Oct '12 said:
I always liked the Russian dude from the comic and would have liked a game set around him. That also had a very dark present day story featuring an assassin other than Desmond sufferring the Bleeding effect due to alcohol abuse and past life regression therapy so there are more ways than just the Animus to tell a two layered story.
Still baffled by the Cowboy Assassin Avatar gear on the Assassins Creed Universe section of the Avatar store. No idea where it comes from, and never seen any reference to a wild west Assassin in any media.
Clanger67 on 23 Oct '12 said:
There is a vid. up on cvg showing the first twenty minutes of AC 3.Obviously it is spoiler tastic.
mistergrimm on 24 Oct '12 said:
A DLC hint, perhaps?